After a long night shooting long-exposures of the stars, we went back up to Devils Tower to use the morning light for a few more photos and another quick hike. I could have easily spent a few more days exploring the monument grounds and hiking, but we needed to push west.
Day four was a good haul of driving - from Hulett, WY (Devils Tower) all the way through Bighorn National Forest and into Cody, WY for our final night's stay before heading into Yellowstone National Park. Photos focused on the tower in the morning and the Bighorns in the afternoon. I hope you enjoy! Day Four:
A detail shot of the volcanic rock in the middle of Wyoming.
This is roughly the same spot as the star trails shot - fast forward about 7 hours in the morning light.
It's a long way to the top...
A view from the Red Beds Trail around the backside of Devils Tower.
When you see a solitary gravel road that just heads off into the hills - you have to stop and get the drone out for an aerial photo.
The same view as above, but from below.
The barbed horizon.
If you take the northern pass (Hwy 14) through the Bighorn National Forest near Dayton, WY - the road winds back and forth, climbing up the mountain at a rapid pace. We stopped near the top to check out the view and watch some nice young man jump off a perfectly good mountain with a sail strapped to his back. This view provided by the aerial drone at high altitude.
A quick shot back at the mountain, showing our elevation and the reverse view of the last drone photo.
Bighorn National Forest from above.
The view down the Bighorn Mountains toward Dayton, WY.
A little wider view so you could see how vast the lowlands are before you hit the Bighorns.
A hang glider preparing for flight.
The view just before takeoff.
He waited until the winds were just right and then off he went!
He jumped off a perfectly good mountain!
I bet his view was pretty spectacular.
After watching the hang glider sail into the distance - we got back on our merry way to Cody.
We made one last stop at Shell Falls to take in some scenery, but mostly for the bathroom break.
There's a river down there somewhere...
Shell Falls. I'd love to see this after the snow melt!
There's an aviation museum near Greybull, WY. We didn't get time to stop...maybe next time.
As we neared Cody, the sun began to set and the flood of cowboy colors started to appear before us. It was an awesome sight to behold.
You can see the color change in just a matter of minutes.
The orange sun trying to peak through the blue horizon as the sun sets on a gorgeous Wyoming day.